Canadian Walleye
Fishing for Walleye in Canada is a popular sport for many anglers all over the world who have recognized all that this corner of the earth has to offer when it comes to fishing. Walleye are either dark or olive green fish that are named for their unique eyes that appear as if they are blind. In fact, the reflective cover of their eyes actually gives them quite an advantage when it comes to sight and helps this predator to seek out its prey even in the dark. They have wide teeth filling their jaws as well as on the roof of their mouth.
Walleye belong to the perch family and are the largest members at weights of over 10 pounds and lengths of over 30 inches. These fish can live as long as 8 years and have been known to reach as much as 15 pounds with the record being recorded at a whopping 25.
These fish are native to central regions of North America beginning at the Rocky Mountains and reaching as far south as Mississippi, Arkansas, and Alabama all the way north to the Mackenzie River, Canada, the Peace River, and Great Slave Lake. They prefer to live in clearer, cool lakes and rivers with either sandy or gravel floors. If you can not make it out to the walleyes spots in Canada, try out some great online fishing games to keep you going until your next trip.
Feeding for the walleye typically takes place during both dusk and dawn. Emerald and spottail shiners as well as yellow perch are favorite prey of theirs in addition to crappie, bluegill, crayfish and bullheads and crayfish. Younger walleye actually feed on such things as aquatic invertebrates, smaller, younger fish and zooplankton.
Walleye spawning happens early on in the spring, immediately following ice-out when the temperatures of the water are in between 38 degrees and 50. Spawning usually occurs once other fish have gone ahead upstream. No nests are built and there is no care parental wise for the eggs or younger fish. The female will lay somewhere around 500,000 eggs over shoals and up to two males will fertilize them by releasing their milt. The incubation period takes between as little as five days or as much as two weeks.
When fishing for walleye, you will find that it is a much more successful venture if you happen to fish during the evening hours along weed beds and over piles of rocks. Working minnows or night crawlers slowly at this time will get good results.